Hewlett is renowned for his work with Gorillaz, the Tank Girl comic and the opera, Monkey.

The exhibition, Under Water Colours – features new work by Hewlett inspired by a trip he made to Char Atra in Bangladesh with Oxfam earlier this year.

The show also includes work by Bangladeshi children Hewlett met, showing how climate change affects them, plus photographs, film and stories

Thursday 15 October 2009 19.01 EDT
First published on Thursday 15 October 2009 19.01 EDT

Children in waters surrounding the island Char Atra, Bangladesh, which is suffering more intense monsoons and flooding thanks to climate change. Jamie Hewlett, British graphic artist known for his work with Gorillaz, Tank Girl and the opera Monkey, visited Bangladesh with Oxfam to see first-hand the effects of climate change on communities there. His work will be on display at the Old Truman Brewery in London until October 31

Hewlett's work on Char Atra explores the impact of climate change on an island community. He found a country disappearing under water. The experience inspired a sensitive, thought-provoking series of watercolours

Jamie Hewlett

Jamie Hewlett

'This is the river erosion, showing how the bank has almost been sliced away. You can see the men folk looking at us on our boat - watching us quizzically as to who we are. I liked the idea of putting the paintings on paper and envelopes that were a bit dog-eared, as if they had been dropped in a puddle.'

Jamie Hewlett

'This shows the kids up in the trees, which for many of them is the safest place to go during the floods. Gathering some food rations to keep them going and climbing up, staying there for as long as they can.'

Jamie Hewlett

'This is another crop store. It looked like it would be able to withstand the flood. The people don't have much to work with, so this is quite ingenious. They just raise it up above what they think the flood level is.'

Jamie Hewlett

'This is one of the stacks that we saw which shows how the villagers store their crops. It's built up on a platform so the water doesn't wash it away. It's attached to an old tree and on top of the mound they have netting which is fastened so it all stays intact.'

Jamie Hewlett

Jamie Hewlett

'We followed these two girls in the village looking happy and smiling. The children always looked so innocent. I wanted to portray the next generation and their future in an optimistic but realistic way – and show what a beautiful place Char Atra is. I think many people have sadly become numb (or immune) to footage of dying children. If people can relate to a picture, then it can sometimes have more of an impact. Showing two children being playful, walking down a path with their arms around each other is a connection that people here might understand from their own or their children's experiences.'